Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has announced that his administration has begun the restructuring of the State College of Health and Technology, Takum, into a polytechnic to enable it to qualify for intervention funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. The governor made the declaration on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the maiden combined convocation of graduates from 1995 to 2025, held in Takum Local Government Area of the state. Represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio, Kefas explained that plans were underway to amend some of the laws establishing the college to enable it to access TETFund, as the institution currently operates as a monotechnic and is ineligible for the intervention under existing regulations.
The governor assured that legal and institutional reforms were being pursued to transform the college from a monotechnic into a polytechnic, drawing on the example of the Taraba College of Agriculture, Jalingo, which underwent a similar reform process and now qualifies for TETFund support. "No society can build a resilient healthcare system, grow its economy or secure its future without investing in education," Kefas said, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening tertiary education through sustained investments in infrastructure, programme accreditation, staff development and expanded access to higher education.
The convocation was described by the governor as a historic milestone, marking the fulfilment of a long-awaited aspiration for the institution and its alumni. The college, which was established in 1993, had graduated more than 30 sets of students over three decades without ever holding a convocation ceremony. Kefas highlighted key interventions by his administration, including a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees across state-owned tertiary institutions, funding for programme accreditation, improved infrastructure, recruitment of additional personnel and the introduction of new academic programmes.
The Provost of the college, Dr Wama Binga, praised Governor Kefas for his administration's investment in education, saying government interventions had transformed the college's physical infrastructure, strengthened academic programmes and restored confidence in the institution. The convocation, which brought together graduates from 1995 to 2025, featured the graduation of students trained over a 30-year period and included a free oral and dental healthcare outreach for residents of Takum Local Government Area.
The commissioner for tertiary education explained that the state government had already begun the legal process required to change the institution's status to make it eligible for TETFund intervention, noting that similar reforms were carried out for the College of Agriculture, which now benefits from TETFund support. "We are determined to achieve the same for the College of Health Technology," Dio Jen said, assuring the college management that requests for additional facilities and support would receive government attention.
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